Bachelorette Party!

My bachelorette party was Saturday night, and let me just say... it was a pAArty!

Ashley(cousin) did an awesome job planning, with the help from Liz, Shannon, and Debbie (I think). It was all kept a complete secret from me too. I am shocked no one spilled the beans! The night started off at Pacifica (which is one of my favorite restaurants). It is a small tapas bar at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach with awesome drinks and food. They have a menu that changes seasonally and usually features locally grown produce. I love it. We all enjoyed some dinner and drinks as well as our first shots of the night (blow jobs). They were some sort of coffee or espresso shot with freshly made whipped cream. For those who don't know a blow job shot is a shot you must take without using hands. This proved difficult since the glasses were both huge and square. I think only about 5 of us managed to take it the right way.

Next a party bus picked us up to take us to our next destination. It was both huge and equipped for dancing.

The first and main surprise was a trip to Kokomo's for ladies night. We had tables reserved upstairs to see the Southern Gentleman. Now I had never seen strippers before and it was certainly an experience. Dianne somehow accidentally won a bid war for the first stripper lap dance, but she went along with it. They all bid on the cowboy for me, which I think was the best guy of the night (at least that we saw). He ended up pulling out a banana and peeling it on top of his crotch then proceeded to cover it with whipped cream and shove it in my mouth. Of course everyone in my party was going crazy and loving it. He also poured chocolate in my mouth and filled a cantaloupe with whipped cream and chocolate then literally "pounded" it to smithereens. So ridiculous. I was covered in whipped cream by the end of it.Sadly we didn't really get any pictures of this because it wasn't allowed, though I think Amie may have snagged a few with a disposable camera. Once we had enough of the male entertainment we got back on the party bus and headed for the Hilton Hotel to go to Catch 31 with the hopes Ashley D's husband who is a bartender there could get us up to the Sky Bar. At this point Jessica finally got to meet up with us too!

We took some Kamikaze shots when we first got there...

Then we got to go up to the sky bar! But were squashed in the elevator!

 All in all it was a super fun night. There were some party fouls, some wet clothes, some ripped pants and cut knees, and lots of dancing Here are some more fun shots from the night.

Rehersal Dress and Shoes

Sunday my mom and I made a trip up to the Williamsburg outlets to check out BCBG for dresses. My mom needed a new dress for the wedding since she decided to shrink and the first one we got no longer fit. I needed a dress for the rehearsal dinner. Luckily we both found dresses there! I love the dress my mom got and wish I could also squeeze into a size 0... maybe if I lost 5 pounds. I won't give away any details though. (Of course I will post pictures from the wedding). Now the dress I am wearing for the rehearsal is super cute. It is gold and surprisingly looks good on me. Since I was on a budget my mom bought the dress (because she loves it and can wear it as well) so I am borrowing it for this occasion and she wants to wear it to a Christmas party. Here it is.

After our successful trip to BCBG we headed back home to Lynnhaven mall to look for shoes, plus I needed to pick up some makeup and nude underwear to wear with my dress. My mom found some cute shoes at Off Broadway for her dress. The hunt for shoes I could wear for the wedding reception was not going as smoothly. Finally as we were about to leave Dillard's I spotted the perfect shoe. First off it matched my rehearsal dress, second I could also wear it for the wedding reception, and third it was actually called Bride! It was meant to be! Now after all that buildup... here it is.

They are so pretty and glamorous in the sunlight too! I am in love with them and I can wear them for more than just the wedding. They did cost me $80 but I think it was totally worth it. I definitely did not have luck finding ballet flats but I think these shoes are better than any ballet flat I could have found. Probably more comfortable too. I apologize for my pathetically old toenail polish in the pictures too.

I can't believe it is only 9 days until the wedding! I can see the date on the 10 day forecast now! So far so good. Though its still unpredictable. As of right now it says low 61 high 80 and mostly sunny! I hope it stays that way.

Zach and his buds leave for their man- bachelor party- weekend getaway. They are going whitewater rafting in West Virginia then driving to Georgia to shoot machine guns...There are 8 of them I believe. I am having Alyssa come spend the weekend with me because I don't want to be in the house alone. Ashley (cousin) was put in charge of my bachelorette party. I have a feeling I have a lot in store for me...I'm sure I will have pictures to post Monday...

Ring Bearer

I am sure I have mentioned that my 8 1/2 year old Black Lab Kathy is going to be our ring bearer. Isn't she cute?!

 Now first we solved the dilemma of how she was getting down the aisle by having my cousin Gooby walk with her.
We still have the way to attach the rings up in the air. With 9 days until the wedding we are really getting down to the wire! Nothing like procrastination!! I saw these pillows which I loved by Anna Whitford ...

We figured we could make a harness/jacket type thing out of leftover bridesmaid fabric and make a mini version of one of these pillows using more leftover fabric and interfacing so that the flower would be stiffer. I am not sure that we are still going to do this. Though I love the idea, we may be able to make something similar. Here is another pillow that my mom found though I don't like it nearly as much...

And here are some other cute pups with simple corsages or flowers around their necks that the rings are also attached to.

I really like how the last one looks like it is on a string of pearls. Very pretty yet simple. So, I am leaning towards my first idea, or the last picture. Opinions? Ideas? Suggestions? Which do you like best?

Ballet Flats

 I have decided that I need flats for the reception. I do not think I can last 6 hours or so on grass in the tall heels I got. Not only will I be sinking into the ground but I will probably be standing for most of the wedding and do not think I will last that long. Plus, I don't want them ending up super grass stained. So the solution: ballet flats.
This way I won't look too short while I am standing at the alter with Zach and in all the posed pictures, and after all thats over I can put on more comfortable shoes.

Now I've only got 16 days to find flats, and I have no idea what I am looking for. I was browsing online and here is what I found. I am thinking I want something simple. and maybe a color, not white? No idea. I will hopefully find something on Sunday when I go shopping with my mom.

Images courtesy Nordstroms, Zappos, Urban Outfitters & Nine West

I already think I want to reject the lacy looking mary janes. They look a little too... little girl? I actually think my favorites are the last four. No idea! The last pair is real cute though I am not sure about that ankle strap. Who knows, when I look at DSW and Off Broadway maybe they will have the perfect pair. Any ideas? Favorites? Suggestions?

Insanity!

That's kind of how I have felt lately...insane. I am exhausted and overwhelmed. Definitely ready for the next 16 days to fly by! I can't wait for the wedding and to have a nice long break from work and enjoy some time with just Zach in the beautiful country of Ireland!
The past few weeks have been so crazy, with preparing for the wedding, moving, and my art show. I must be crazy to take on all those things at once. The art show is set up and done now, and we are 98% moved out of the old house. I still have a ton of organizing to do still, and around one more load to bring over. It is crazy how the wedding is only a little more than 2 weeks away! 


Zach and I got the marriage license yesterday morning, after wasting a good 15 minutes waiting at the wrong clerk's office. We also got a permit for the tent. Good to have that taken care of and not have any crazy neighbors have a way to ruin our wedding! I also tried to get our ABC liquor license but they said I didn't need one since it is at a residence. Hopefully that doesn't come to bite me in the ass later on.


Also we really lucked out with Gooby's dress fabric.We wanted to find a periwinkle silk to match the ribbon/sashes that will be on the bridesmaids. We went to Fabric Hut and low and behold right next to my bridesmaid fabric there is a periwinkle silk that matched the ribbon EXACTLY. I was fully expecting not to find anything. We will make her a sash with the bridesmaid fabric so she will kind of be opposite of the bridesmaids. Kathy's harness and pillow will be made with leftovers from both dresses so she will coordinate too.


We still don't have a final head count but I am thinking it is around 175 right now. Pretty big party! I am praying for beautiful weather because I am a little worried we can't fit everyone under our large 40 x 80 tent. I hope everything will workout and fall into place. I can't spend time stressing over things that are uncontrollable, though it is super hard NOT to do.

18 days to go!

I don't know how it has crept up on me but this wedding seems so close now! Funny to think that 2 weeks from Saturday Zach and I will be getting hitched! I really don't feel prepared either. I feel like there is so much I have to do still but then I think about it and there really isn't too much left. For some exciting wedding news though....

We have an addition to the bridal party! Gooby will be assisting Kathy down the aisle! Before we were very unsure how to get Kathy (our ring barer) down the aisle. We thought of treats... but we don't want her barreling down the aisle! She does love some food. I don't think drooling would be the best either. So, while she is very behaved, and the best dog ever I think this is the best solution. We are hunting for fabric for Gooby (Gabrielle) 's dress tomorrow, I am hoping we can find a periwinkle silk and accent it with the bridesmaids green silk. If not her dress will probably be made of mostly leftover bridesmaid dress fabric. I am pretty excited about this though and I am sure Gooby is as well!

So for the to do's I still have to accomplish. Let me make a list, which as of late seems to be one of my favorite things to do. But hey, with so much going on you have to stay organized somehow!

• Get fabric for Gooby's dress ( Wednesday)
• Get fabric for Kathy's harness and pillow that we are making. (Wednesday)
• Get more ribbon for Bridesmaids (Wednesday)
• Get marriage license ( Wednesday)
• Get Liquor License
• Get Tent license
• Get potted plants for the aisle
• Look for Grape Vine?
• Call Teeny about making a grooms cake
• Get makeup
• Give DJ the paperwork for what we want/ don't want played at the wedding
• My mom needs to finish Ashley's Dress
• Alyssa needs to get fitted for her dress
• Get Alcohol
• Get thank you cards  
• Write Thank You notes for Bridal shower gifts
• Wrap wedding party gifts
• Get gifts for Gooby, Ava and Elle.

I am sure I am forgetting some things, but oh well. That does seem like a lot. Hopefully I can get a good portion of it done tomorrow.